Kroger, the largest standalone U.S. supermarket chain, plans to eliminate 3,000 corporate jobs over the next three years, Newsweek and The Independent reported on Tuesday.

The cuts equal about 37% of the company's 8,200 corporate workers, Newsweek reported. They would rank among the largest layoffs in the grocer's history. A Kroger spokesperson confirmed the plan to Newsweek. More details on which roles will be cut are expected in the coming months.

CEO Greg Foran announced the plan in a memo to employees on Monday. "Technology is reshaping what's possible," he wrote, according to The Independent. "We need to adopt capabilities, reduce duplicative work and look closely at where work is best fit to be done."

Foran also said Kroger has "more layers, more handoffs and more overhead than we need," according to the trade site Grocery Dive, as cited by Newsweek. He said the changes would free up money to lower prices and invest in workers.

The cuts follow an AI plan Kroger released last month. It uses customer data and AI agents to help shoppers and staff. Foran is a former Walmart executive who became CEO in February, The Independent reported.

Kroger employs about 409,000 people across more than 2,700 locations, under names such as Ralphs, King Soopers and Fred Meyer. It faces tough competition from Walmart, Aldi, Lidl and Amazon. Its planned merger with Albertsons was blocked by courts in 2024. Last year, Kroger cut nearly 1,000 corporate jobs, Newsweek reported.

Kroger shares fell 1.6% to $61.66 on Tuesday morning, The Independent reported.

What we know: Kroger plans to cut 3,000 corporate roles over three years, with details due in the coming months.
What we don't: Which teams and locations will lose jobs first.